If there was anything that's for certain about former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, it was he never went away quietly and he had an endless amount of love for his city.

Koch, who passed away Friday morning of heart complications, made a run for governor in 1982. He eventually lost the primary to former Gov. Mario Cuomo, but the race brought him to the Capital District, where some local politicians had met him.

"When he ran for governor, he came up to this area quite often," said former City Manager and Councilman Steve Dworski. "A lot of people got to know him."

Dworski said Koch was one of the more colorful people to enter the New York political circle and whenever he said something it was very clear he meant it. He referred to Koch as a reform politician and said there wasn't an issue he was afraid to tackle.

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"He was never afraid to speak his piece," Dworski said. "He was truly a reform politician."

Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman Tom Wade said it was Koch who saved New York City from financial ruin and also praised him for his ability to be unscripted with his thoughts.

"He was an outspoken political leader and government official." Wade said. "That characteristic was uncommon in that era."

It was an attribute former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno said he admired about Koch, even if it was while he was grilling him about a stance he had taken on an issue.

"I respected and admired him even when he was blistering me over something he didn't like," Bruno said. "He wasn't being political and he wasn't being phony."

Bruno said he ran into Koch six months ago in a diner in New York City where he said the former mayor was just as cordial and friendly as he had remembered him. Koch even gave Bruno some advice regarding his current legal situation.

To Bruno, Koch was the definition of public servant as he said he was dedicated to improving the quality of life of his people. He also said there were some comparisons between Koch and him, even if they were on different sides of the political aisle.

"Well, I always prided myself on being straight forward and saying what was on my mind," Bruno said, adding it would sometimes not only get him in trouble with the public, but also with his staff. "Well, that's how I think he was. He was very open, he was very accessible and, you know, very controversial over some things."

Both Dworski and Wade still hold onto a photo each has with Koch; Wade referred to it as "one of my cherished political memorabilia pieces." They also agreed there isn't a politician around today like Koch.

"He's one of a kind," Dworski said. "I don't think anyone on the horizon is close. Everyone is scripted."